Ranchos de Alta California

Californio landholding families

The Ávila family

Patriarch: Cornelio Ávila (1745 Sinaloa – 1800)

The Ávilas were a foundational Los Angeles pueblo family, their sons serving repeatedly as alcaldes and holding a ring of ranchos around the pueblo (Las Ciénegas, Sausal Redondo, La Tajauta); the Avila Adobe is the oldest surviving house in the city. The register's 'Miguel Abila' at San Luis Obispo likely belongs to a separate Ávila branch.

Origin

Cornelio Ávila came to the Los Angeles pueblo in the 1780s; his sons became Los Angeles alcaldes and rancheros. A related/parallel Ávila presence also existed at San Luis Obispo.

Members

NameRelationRanchos
Francisco Ávilason of CornelioRancho Las Ciénegas (1823); built the Avila Adobe on Olvera Street
Antonio Ygnacio Ávilason of CornelioRancho Sausal Redondo (1837; Manhattan Beach/Lawndale)
José Anastasio Ávilason of CornelioRancho La Tajauta (1843; Watts/Willowbrook)
Miguel ÁvilaÁvila of the San Luis Obispo branch (link to Cornelio's line unverified)Rancho San Miguelito (near Avila Beach, SLO)

Genealogical confidence: medium

Sources

All families · The full register